Doors and Physical Bases of Citta - Some cittas perform many functions through many doors

Some cittas perform their function only through one door. For example, the two types of citta which are sota-viññāna (hearing-consciousness, which can be kusala vipāka or akusala vipāka), only perform their functions through one door, the ear-door. Some cittas perform their function through more than one door. Sampaticchana-citta (receiving..consciousness) performs its function through five doors, depending on the doorway which is contacted by the object. Santīrana-citta has different functions performed through different doorways ; it also performs functions without being dependent on any doorway and this is the case when it performs the function of patisandhi, bhavanga and cuti.

 

Citta should also be classified according to feeling. For example, santīrana-

citta can be accompanied by upekkhā (indifferent feeling) and by

somanassa (pleasant feeling). Santīrana-citta which is accompanied by

somanassa can perform the function of santīrana (investigating)

through five doors and the function of tadārammana (registering,

occurring after the javana-cittas) through six doors.

 

When santīrana-citta is accompanied by upekkhā (and in that case it can

be kusala vipāka or akusala vipāka), it can perform five functions:

 

         1.  The function of santīrana through five doors.

         2.  The function of tadārammana through six doors.

         3.  The function of patisandhi, without being dependent on any door

         4.  The function of bhavanga, without being dependent on any door.

         5.  The function of cuti, without being dependent on any door.